Turkey: PM Binali Yildirim takes reins from Davutoglu

Following his election as AK Party leader Sunday, Yildirim officially takes over his duties as prime minister

ANKARA (AA) - Following his election Sunday as the new leader of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, Binali Yildirim on Tuesday officially took the reins of the premiership.

Following a party group meeting at parliament in the capital Ankara, Yildirim went to the Cankaya Palace to take over the post from former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

The handover ceremony took an hour-and-a-half and was closed to the press.

The new government is set to announce its program at 15.00 local time (1200 GMT).

Yildirim, a co-founder of the party in August 2001, has served as transport minister in five Turkish governments under three prime ministers: Abdullah Gul, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (now president), and Davutoglu.

Earlier, Yildirim announced Turkey’s 65th government, which is now awaiting a confidence vote in parliament later this week.

The 65th government is set to hold its first meeting Wednesday under the chairmanship of President Erdogan at the presidential complex in Ankara.